Around 6 a.m. on June 20, 2013, rescue workers reported to the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, New York, according to CBS New York. Nine workers had been overwhelmed by carbon monoxide fumes inside the suburban mall.
The carbon monoxide came from a machine the workers were operating to strip flooring inside an Abercrombie & Fitch store. The machine is said to emit an insignificant amount of the potentially poisonous gas, but the workers were in a confined space, which allowed the fumes to build up to a dangerous level.
According to a statement by the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office, seven of the nine workers were hospitalized without serious injuries.
The Mall’s representatives declined to comment on the incident.
A workplace can hold many potential hazards. Workers and their supervisors as well as the property owners and managers of properties where work is performed are all expected to exercise good judgment and comply with standards and codes designed to protect the workers and the general public. Employers hold the responsibility to keep workers safe. They are expected to provide adequate training and a safe work environment. If an employer’s negligence leads to the injury of a worker, the worker may seek compensation for the damages to his or her financial and physical well-being.
In some cases of workplace injury, the employer may not be completely at fault. Work accidents can also occur due to defective equipment with manufacturing defects. An employee who is injured by a defect in product design could bring a product liability action for compensation from the manufacturer of the faulty equipment that caused their suffering. If equipment is poorly maintained causing it to malfunction, a property owner or employer may be responsible for any injury caused.
The New Jersey work injury attorneys at Blume Forte may be able to help you if you’ve suffered a workplace injury due to an employer’s negligence or faulty equipment. Call for a no-cost legal consultation at 973-845-4421.